Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Democratic System

Posted by momentofchoice at 6:26 AM
 
First, watch a couple seconds of this video.
(via a scared friend in Vancouver, Canada).

Then, take this survey.
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10 comments:

Abby said...

Watched it. Shared it on Google Reader. Went and took the quiz. here's what I wrote in the comment section of the quiz:

Abby Says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 am
Oh wow. This is getting into SERIOUSLY slippery slope material. Ever heard of Eugenics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics

Galton thought some similar things to this. You know who was a big fan of Galton? Hitler. This is a very bad idea. History has shown this to be true. I KNOW it seems to make sense, but the consequences of such an action has proven to be disastrous.

October 23, 2008 7:39 AM
momentofchoice said...

I was thinking more along the lines of education being a helpful thing.

October 23, 2008 8:02 AM
B.E. Earl said...

I hate ignorance and stupidity (unless it is my own), but I'm saying no.

October 23, 2008 9:47 AM
Abby said...

Education IS a helpful thing. I think that's the point. And damnit, if our education system didn't suck so much, we'd have less ignorance.

I got inspired:
http://proactivebusybody.com/2008/10/23/slippery-slopes-and-smart-people/

October 23, 2008 9:50 AM
stefaddink said...

I think that must have been filmed in my neighborhood.

I think people should only be able vote if they are educated on all of the issues. Perhaps a pre-screening quiz would prove if they are ready, or if they need to go back to the drawing board and do more research before voting. It would be like passing your driver's ed test before hitting the highway.

It bugs me like crazy when ignorant people are helping to decide the future of those who put so much time into thinking, caring and educating themselves on all sides.

But then again, you can't stop them. It unfortunately takes all kinds =(

October 23, 2008 11:44 AM
Abby said...

Comparison to a driving test makes some good sense. Still makes me uneasy.

October 23, 2008 12:05 PM
swine said...

Give them a Civics test. I had to take an intensive one when I became a citizen of the U.S. in 1984.

October 23, 2008 2:30 PM
anna said...

i am with swine. what's wrong with a civics test?

one of our friends recently became a US citizen. prior to his test he asked me and my fellow to help him study. for shits and giggles the fellow asked me some of the study questions. i got every one right, to the fellow's surprise. no, wait... i was the surprised one, discovering that my better half of five years didn't have basic knowledge of his own government.

it pains me knowing more americans can name the five members of the simpson family than can list the five rights guaranteed us by the first amendment. scarier still that a vice presidential candidate does not know her own constitution.

October 23, 2008 6:06 PM
Deni said...

Civics test is a tough question and a slippery slope indeed.

In theory, it is not a bad idea to make sure that people have a basic knowledge of their government and the democratic process to validate their ability to vote.

In practice, it was a great tool to suppress minority voting rights.

Now I'm all for testing before being allowed to breed...

I'm still the only guy I know that can name all 9 members of the Supreme Court off the top of my head.

I know that's uber-geeky, but still, why can I do that and most high schoolers can't find Iraq, and half can't find New York, on a map? A LABELED MAP?!?!?!

October 23, 2008 8:36 PM
swine said...

Deni, I know too well the issues with testing and discrimination/bias in this country; I work within that field. However, why not offer a free class for every registered voter, in several locations around the 50 states? It can be a part of church service, community service, "night school," anything to make it accessible to voters. And the Civics "test" can be administered several times, that is to say, a potential voter has a chance to educate herself/himself and take the exam several times if he/she doesn't score well.

This basically opens up a Pandora's box on "standardized" curricula and testing. I know it's a huge issue in the States, but where I come from (Romania) EVERYONE was taught the same and the intensity of the curriculum was the same across the country. There was a test to GET INTO High School, another to graduate, and--of course--an exam to get into University. Success was based on scores. I know demographics and racial % is way different, but under our current system things aren't working. So then, if not this, then? Something else. But let's take action and stop this downfall.

October 24, 2008 10:53 AM

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